1989 Ford Escort Bonus from UK and Ireland - Comments

Rear coil spring broken.

Rear suspension wishbone rusted through.

Throttle cable snapped.

Rotten boot floor and wheel arches.

Well this is my third Mk3 Escort, and this one must rank as the most reliable of them all. Even in -15C temperatures, the engine kicks into life first time. Apart from oil changes and routine maintenance, it's given me very little trouble. It is a friendly car to run around in, if a bit basic.

Performance is not much cop, and the engine sounds like a load of bolts being shaken in a tin can, but it's a Ford, and that means dirt cheap spares and low running costs, and at the end of the day that's what matters.

My main gripe is rust. This car will be heading for the scrap yard within the next year; this is the rustiest Escort I have ever had. What is it with European Fords in the late 80's? They disintegrate if the weather man even mentions rain.

I have to agree with this post. I too have an Escort Bonus, and although it is still mechanically sound the bodywork is starting to rot away.

Mike.

My Escort Bonus is spectacular. Mechanically sound, needs little work, only things of a routine nature. The bodywork and chassis e.t.c is fairly rust free and once it has had a wash it looks like new.

My 1991 Bonus has been remarkably rust free. Under the bonnet, it looks like new. 120,000 miles now and the only problem has been a leaking rear brake cylinder and an exhaust front down-pipe that cracked at the flange. Suspension seems to be rock hard and the engine has always sounded awful, but the economy has been great. A 1200 mile trip to Germany at a steady 50 mph returned 63 mpg. I like to think that the regular 5000 mile oil changes and never letting it near a garage have helped.

I have a 1989 Ford Escort Bonus, up until now it has been a smashing little car, but a few niggles here and there have started to crop up like a malfunctioning ignition module which although it doesn't stop the car from working, it does have an annoying habit of misfiring when not under load. I have investigated, and after changing the leads and checking the plugs, and found them to be OK, has not solved the problem at all.

Plus after changing a rear wheel bearing last Saturday due to it humming loudly, the dreaded humming sound has returned on the same wheel again.

However, all said, Escort 1.3s are brilliant motors generally speaking, giving good MPG and reliability, and the little OHV engine is virtually indestructible.